The Valentin Series, Book 2: Angel of Vengeance ( Winter Soldier Fanfiction)

Chapter 10: The Aftermath

“Another successful job, Angel,” Pierce grinned at her from behind his desk, “Although I do see you’re a little worse for wear this time.”

“I ran into… complications,” she shrugged in response, “nothing I couldn’t handle.”

“I believe you,” he nodded, “After all, you are still here. We’ll contact you with your next assignment soon, you may go.” He waved a hand at her in dismissal.

Angel just picked up the bag of cash at her feet and walked out the door, all she wanted was a bath, a week’s worth of sleep and a million ice bags.

~~

“What’s the first rule, mija?” a deep voice asked her softly. She was 11 years old again, and wrapped up in furs as the older boy with chestnut brown curly hair knelt in front of her and looked at her through his blue and brown eyes.

“Yourself, first, Toffee,” Angel answered in a small voice. Her brother smiled, his abnormally pronounced canines glinting in the snowy sunlight, he cupped her cheek in his big hand, and she did the same with his.

“That’s right, sis,” he whispered, “I’ll be back, ok?”

“Promise?” she asked, her small voiced dwarfed by the cold Siberian wind.

“This time, love, yes, I promise,” he kissed her forehead as he stood, pulling up the fur-lined hood of his gray parka.

“Bye, Toffee,” she said quietly, sure that he wouldn’t hear her, and watched as the only blood relation she had ever known walked away from her. She knew full well that there was a chance they’d never see each other again, but he promised,  and if there was one thing she could count on, it was her brother’s  promises.

“Bye Milla!” she heard him shout from a distance, “I promise!”

Camilla Valentin smiled, he heard her.

Angel woke up with a start; she was at her New York apartment, sweat running down her brow. It was 4 in the morning, and the lights from the street below seeped through her third floor apartment.  She put the head in her hands and curled into a fetal position, throwing her blanket over herself in the process.

The last time she had dreamt about her brother, he died. She felt the tears come, and she couldn’t stop it. So that’s what she did until the lights were replaced by the watery sunshine that streamed through her windows, she cried.

~~

The Winter Soldier sat on his bed, his back leaning on the wall. There was an indent in the steel wall that he was pretty sure he made, but could not remember. He clenched and unclenched his metal hand, noting that the hinges were not bending as fast anymore, he would need to have that checked on. He sighed, pushing his brown hair away from his eyes.

He was shirtless this time, and in worn out cargo pants. Looking around the sparsely furnished room, there was a table and a chair, and a small bathroom in the back. The Soldier wondered if he used to live in an actual house before, and he tried to remember. Maybe there was a home for him somewhere, and he just could not recall. But every time he thought about home, one face would flash through his memories. Her face.

He could not remember her name, but he was sure if he saw her in a crowd, he would know her. You couldn’t forget a person whose eyes looked like they knew all the things you did wrong, but they would forgive you if you asked. She had no name in his mind, but he was sure he would remember her next time. He had a feeling he needed to remember her the next time he saw her. It was important. He didn’t know why, but it was.

~~

“This is Angel,” she said into her phone  as she navigated the New York City foot traffic, a brown leather sling bag on her shoulder, and a large Starbucks  in her other hand.

“We need you on the field,” Rumlow’s voice came.

“Again?” Angel asked, exasperatedly, it had been less than ten days. She turned a corner, her blue skater skirt swishing as she moved. She had on a black leather jacket, large sunglasses and black Chucks.

“How long until you can make it?” Rumlow grunted, she could hear him rolling her eyes.

“12 hours,” she told him as she wove her way to her apartment complex, “You do know that I am supposed to be back -up, right? Like, when you guys have at least TRIED to find him, and can’t, you call me, right?”

“We can’t extract him this time, too obvious,” he huffed impatiently.

“12 hours,” she said again, and then hung up.

Angel sighed and sipped at her coffee, “Good morning, New York,” she muttered as she entered her apartment building.

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YES! i know i haven't been able to update much, i am so sorry. i got really stuck on this one, but i hope i will have more ideas soon. Thank you so much for the continued support!

Love,

~A2V~